Monday, July 16, 2007

Christschool Educates Hillary Clinton

In his description of his latest video, which deals with Hillary Clinton's misguided support for Autism Speaks, Christschool writes that he met Hillary several times at White House functions during Bill's second term as President.

He believes that she has had very little experience with autistic people in everyday life and "just needs to be introduced to autism outside of the framework of Autism Speaks and the various other charities that pretend to support autistic people."

7 Comments:

Disclaimer:

I tried to come up with an idea that would fit into a 3 minute song and to point out a simple obsurdity, using people that the public may be familiar with. If the song had been more than 4 or 5 minutes, I would have included others that weren't "shiney" aspies. I had limited time to do the video (a Sunday afternoon). This was not the video I first imagined doing, nor if I had more time would have been the one I would like to do (showing everyday people explaining what ASD means to them either verbally or by other means).

I wonder if H.C. will ever see this video. Perhaps we should also start a Hillary Clinton Education Project (HCEP), flooding her campaign headquarters with aut-positive statements from folks on the spectrum and our allies. How many would it take to get their attention? This group can sure spread a meme fast enough, so why not this? A paragraph each? With a photo perhaps, from those who are willing to do that?

Hillary Clinton was the guest speaker for a luncheon sponsored by NAAR at the Autism Summit Conference, on November 19, 2003. She spoke about her personal connection to autism--a close friend with a child on the autism spectrum. That information was not included in the speech she gave which is now posted on the AS website: http://www.autismspeaks.org/inthenews/naar_archive/senator_clinton_naar_luncheon.php. It is most likely due to the fact the lights went out in the room and she could not read from her prepared notes. Instead, she spoke about her awareness with autism by knowing this family and their circumstances. Maybe that friend of hers, or the child, will educate Hillary about autism.

Bev: Based on what I've seen of the replies other people are getting from her, I don't think she would even notice if we all wrote to her. A staffer would classify our e-mails under the category "autism," and her computer would spit out a canned reply bragging about her support for Autism Speaks. She's so completely out of touch that she doesn't realize this is an issue with more than one side.

Anon: I hope that "close friend" isn't one of the Autism Speaks leaders...

Frankly, CS, I think it's excellent. Also, I think Bill would get it in a nano-second and I have to agree with abfh about that canned reply being spat-out to a concerted e-mail campaign. Hillary's clueless.

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This blog began its journey in May 2005, countering misinformation and stereotypes about autism. The title was chosen to make clear that autistic people are not changelings or aliens, but are human beings who have just as much right to inhabit Planet Earth as anyone else.
Now, as it reaches the end of its five-year mission, I would like to thank my readers and everyone who is working toward understanding and acceptance. May you find blessings wherever you go.
— abfh, May 31, 2010